An elegant and simple woodland shrub, western leatherwood's flexible stems, very early spring tiny golden yellow-green flowers and pretty yellow fall foliage makes it lovely for planting among rhododendrons and shade trees. A deciduous, slow-growing rounded shrub, it is native only to the San Francisco Bay region of central California. Its bark is smooth and mottled gray and brown.

This shrub is among the first to flower and leaf-out each late winter and early spring. Before any foliage, the...

A woodland shrub that is the perfect barometer for the start of spring, leatherwood's flexible stems, early spring yellow flowers make it lovely for planting among rhododendrons and shade trees. A deciduous, slow-growing rounded shrub, it is native from southeastern Canada to Missouri and Florida in the eastern United States. Its smooth, dark sandy brown bark is fibrous and spotted with white lenticels.

This shrub is among the first to flower and leaf-out each spring. Before any foliage, the...

This exquisite, pendulous cactus has long, smooth, ridged stems and spectacular flowers that resemble those of Christmas cactus. Commonly called Ackermann’s orchid cactus, it is an epiphytic, or tree-dwelling, cactus that originates from the rainforests of Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico where it dangles in the dappled light of the tree branches. Gardeners favor it as a hanging container specimen for indoor or outdoor culture.

What may appear to be long, flat, succulent leaves are actually modified...

This exquisite, pendulous cactus has long, smooth, ridged stems and spectacular flowers that resemble those of Christmas cactus. Commonly called Ackermann’s orchid cactus, it is an epiphytic, or tree-dwelling, cactus that originates from the rainforests of Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico where it dangles in the dappled light of the tree branches. Gardeners favor it as a hanging container specimen for indoor or outdoor culture.

What may appear to be long, flat, succulent leaves are actually modified...

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker 'Variegatum'.

Japanese fairybell grows and flowers best in partial shade and moist,...

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker 'Variegatum'.

Japanese fairybell grows and flowers best in partial shade and moist,...

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker 'Variegatum'.

Japanese fairybell grows and flowers best in partial shade and moist,...

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker 'Variegatum'.

Japanese fairybell grows and flowers best in partial shade and moist,...

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Selections grown under the name 'Variegatum' have variably white-streaked veins and margins. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker...

Royal trumpet vines are cold-tender broadleaf evergreen climbers grown for their lush foliage and spectacular displays of showy flowers. Bearing large lavender-purple trumpet-flowers with golden-yellow throats, 'Rivers' is the center of attention when in bloom, which is most of the year in tropical climates. The flowers are hummingbird magnets. Large seed pods follow the blossoms. Somewhat more vigorous and leafy than most others of its kind, this presumed hybrid has large rich green compound leaves...